EXHIBIT 99.1

                                                                      [PDL LOGO]

For Immediate Release

Contact:

James R. Goff
Senior Director,
Corporate Communications
(510) 574-1421
mailto:rkirkman@pdl.comjgoff@pdl.com

                    PROTEIN DESIGN LABS COMPLETES ACQUISITION
                           OF EOS BIOTECHNOLOGY, INC.

         Fremont, Calif., April 7, 2003 -- Protein Design Labs, Inc. (PDL)
(Nasdaq: PDLI), a leader in antibody humanization and development, today
announced that it has completed its acquisition of privately held Eos
Biotechnology, Inc. (Eos), a pioneer in the discovery of therapeutic antibodies
based on information from the human genome. By applying a disease-based approach
and a suite of proprietary discovery technologies, Eos identifies antibodies
that selectively and specifically target pathogenic cells.

         Mark McDade, PDL's Chief Executive Officer, said, "This is an important
step forward that expands our research, preclinical and clinical development
pipelines. Eos adds more than 20 antibody targets to our research portfolio in
oncology and antibodies directed to a number of these targets are in various
stages of functional validation. In the near-term, this transaction helps build
our clinical focus in oncology with the anti-(alpha)5(beta)1 integrin antibody
for treatment of solid tumors. A Phase I trial of that antibody is expected to
begin in the second quarter of 2003. We also are pleased to welcome
approximately 40 former Eos employees, who represent an important infusion of
additional talent, primarily in our research and clinical development groups."

         Under terms of the acquisition agreement, all shares of Eos common and
preferred stock will be exchanged for approximately 4,330,000 shares of PDL
common stock.

         As previously announced, Richard Murray, Ph.D., formerly Vice
President, Research, Eos, becomes Vice President, Research, PDL, and Barbara
Finck, M.D., formerly Vice President, Clinical Development, Eos, joins PDL as
Vice President, Clinical Development. Bill Benjamin, Ph.D., formerly PDL's Vice
President, Research Operations, assumes the new role of Vice President, Research
and Clinical Technologies, with a lead role in identifying and evaluating
promising new antibody products and related technology.



         The foregoing contains forward-looking statements involving risks and
uncertainties and PDL's actual results may differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements including statements regarding the initiation of
clinical testing of the anti-(alpha)5(beta)1 integrin antibody. Factors that may
cause such differences are discussed in PDL's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2002, and in other filings made with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. In particular, there can be no assurance that PDL will
achieve the anticipated benefits of the transaction, including initiating or
completing clinical trials of the acquired antibodies or that the acquired
technology will produce additional targets, or that PDL will successfully
develop or humanize antibodies against such targets.

         Protein Design Labs, Inc. is a leader in the development of therapeutic
humanized antibodies for the prevention or treatment of cancer and certain
immunologic disorders. PDL currently has antibodies under development for
autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, asthma and cancer. PDL holds fundamental
patents for its proprietary antibody humanization technology. For further
information, visit www.pdl.com.

         Protein Design Labs is a registered U.S. trademark and the PDL logo is
a trademark of Protein Design Labs, Inc.